newstodate.aero
Apr 02, 2009 (newstodate): Besides considerable political pressure from the Russian side, the issue of jet fuel prices may also be behind Lufthansa Cargo's move of its cargo hub from Kazkahstan to Russia from June, 2009.
The issue of overflight rights were clearly a pertinent issue when the carrier was forced to consider moving their Asian freighter stops from Astana, Kazakhstan, to Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
But jet fuel prices in Kazakhstan's airport are actually 25 percent to 30 percent higher than in Europe.
In the last year's Q4, Kasakhstan's jet fuel prices ranged from 650 to 750 USD per tonne against 425 to 500 USD in the airports of Europe and Asia.
The annual production capacity of Kazakhstan's refineries is currently around 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel, and in addition the country imports 167,000 tonnes from neighbouring Russia.
The domestic demand for jet fuel in Kazakhstan is estimated to almost double over the next two years, reaching 895,000 tonnes. So to offer jet fuel at competitive prices to foreign airlines at Kazakh hubs would require the country's annual production to be increased to at least three mio tonnes of jet fuel per year.
Lufthansa Cargo's move from Kazakhstan's Astana to Krasnoyearsk will, however, also shorten total flying times of the carrier's Asian routes by 15 minutes further bringing down jet fuel consumption costs.
The issue of overflight rights were clearly a pertinent issue when the carrier was forced to consider moving their Asian freighter stops from Astana, Kazakhstan, to Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
But jet fuel prices in Kazakhstan's airport are actually 25 percent to 30 percent higher than in Europe.
In the last year's Q4, Kasakhstan's jet fuel prices ranged from 650 to 750 USD per tonne against 425 to 500 USD in the airports of Europe and Asia.
The annual production capacity of Kazakhstan's refineries is currently around 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel, and in addition the country imports 167,000 tonnes from neighbouring Russia.
The domestic demand for jet fuel in Kazakhstan is estimated to almost double over the next two years, reaching 895,000 tonnes. So to offer jet fuel at competitive prices to foreign airlines at Kazakh hubs would require the country's annual production to be increased to at least three mio tonnes of jet fuel per year.
Lufthansa Cargo's move from Kazakhstan's Astana to Krasnoyearsk will, however, also shorten total flying times of the carrier's Asian routes by 15 minutes further bringing down jet fuel consumption costs.